By Melissa McManus
I truly believe that books can open possibilities and imaginations. In the spirit of giving, I want to share with you some of my all-time favorite leadership books. These are all books that I have personally read and that have made an impression on me. These titles are timeless and relevant, regardless of the decade, and can be applied to your personal and/or work life.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
I have not come across many people who do not know of Covey’s work. This one is an oldie, but a goodie—even my son’s elementary school has adopted a version of Covey’s 7 Habits. The idea is to apply the 7 habits to your life, and recognizing that the one thing we can all control is our own attitudes and behaviors. A simple concept, this book is foundational and I recommend it to anyone who wants to be inspired.
The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One that Isn’t, by Robert Sutton
This book, as its name implies, describes workplace a-holes, how to deal with them, and how not to be one yourself. Sutton details how these a-holes can have a detrimental effect to productivity and overall workplace culture. If there are a-holes in your workplace or if you think you could be one, then this book is a great read (or maybe a not-so-subtle Secret Santa gift).
Primal Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman
If you are a fan of psychology, then you will love this book. Goleman takes the foundation of his best seller Emotional Intelligence, which redefined what “being smart” means, and he describes how one can cultivate emotionally intelligent leaders. He focuses on the four domains of emotional intelligence and discusses different leadership styles. If you are looking for a new or refreshed leadership style, then this might be the book for you.
Share with us some of your favorite books—we’d love to get your perspective and get a glimpse into which books have changed your life!
About the Author: Melissa McManus has five years of research experience as well as over a decade of experience working in the educational sector spanning from TK through Adult education. Melissa has a Masters in counseling, received from California State University, Fresno and a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership with a focus in Human Resource Development. Melissa’s professional interests include human behavior, research, writing, coaching, training, and knowledge transfer. On a more personal note, Melissa is involved in community service efforts including serving as chair of her children’s school site council, volunteering her time as an art docent, and serving in the library of her local church. In her free time when she is not running her kids to gymnastics or karate, Melissa enjoys reading (a lot), wine tasting, Crossfit, being with friends/family, and spending time with her husband and two children.